DEC nabs businessman, spouse for being in possession of precious stones.

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a Copperbelt businessman and his spouse for being in possession of precious stones weighing 21.6715 kilograms worth US$23,866.59.

DEC spokesperson, Rosten Chulu announced this in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He named the suspects as Demba Sylla 50, a Malian national and his 18 year old
Zambian wife Diawara Anjou of house no 3669 Martin Mwamba Rd in Northrise in Ndola.

Mr Chulu noted that the couple was found with 3,621.2g mixed grade natural Emmaraid,
30g of Amathest, 7.3g Malachite, 13.2g Green quartz and 18000g of industrial grade
Rhodolite garnet.

He said the two are yet to be formally charged.

Meanwhile the Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has
arrested two Zambians for money laundering offences.

Mr Chulu said Bwalya Chongo 24, a driver of house servant of house No. H 44
Kalingalinga compound has been arrested for theft by public servant and money
laundering.

He explained that the accused who is a house servant stole money amounting to K18
Million from his employers during his course of duty and deposited K15 Million as a
way of hiding its true source in his account domiciled at Barclays Bank branch No.
1418328 at Lusaka chelstone branch.

Mr Chulu added that the unit also arrested Hantumbu Bright Hantumbu 31, an
accountant of Mint Master Security Company residing at house No.201 /A Makeni Villa
for theft, attempting to obtain money by false pretences and money laundering.

He noted that Hantumbu while acting together with Josephine Chitengi, a Data
Processor of Premier Coatings and other unknown persons fraudulently obtained a
cheque book belonging to Ysakar Legal practitioners of which they obtained K10
Million through Chitengi’s account.

Mr Chulu added that Hantumbu attempted to further obtain another K10 Million from
Ysakar Legal practitioners cheque through his Stanbic accounting while purporting to
show that the cheque was genuinely issued by the company when in fact not.

And the Commission has arrested in various parts of the country six Zambians for
trafficking in psychotropic substances.

And the court in Luapula Province yesterday convicted 17 People for illicit drug
trafficking offences.

Meanwhile the Commission has in Kitwe arrested Ankur Desai 29, a Zambian of Asian
origin residing at house No. H1 Lumbambe Centre for trafficking in 7g of cannabis.

And in Northern Province, the Commission has arrested Frank Mulenga 46, a peasant
farmer of Chibansa compound in Mpika for trafficking in 25kg of cannabis, Erick
Nkonde 27, for trafficking in 9.6g of cannabis and Peter Chanda 42, a peasant farmer
of Kasama for trafficking in 0.6g of cannabis.

Mr Chulu cautioned Zambians against engaging in illicit drug cultivation and money
laundering.

All suspects will appear in court soon.